The £200,000 deal to allow new homes to be built on a North London park has been 'called in' for a special review, after hundreds signed a petition demanding the decision be overturned. Campaigners have been left feeling 'angry and ignored' by the agreement concerning Barham Park in Sudbury, which the council claims will benefit the park and residents via 'improvements over the coming years'.
Last month, the trustees of Barham Park – five members of Brent Council's Cabinet – agreed a deal with a local funfair owner and property developer to change a long-standing agreement that prevents further homes being built within the park grounds. The decision will be reviewed by the Scrutiny Committee next month after opposition councillors officially challenged the decision.
The two existing houses on the site were auctioned off in 2011, after they were deemed to no longer be needed, and bought by fun fair owner George Irvin. Brent Council's Planning Committee then approved plans by Mr Irvin's property development company to demolish the houses and replace them with four three-storey homes - despite a protective covenant being in place which restricts further development.
The move to vary the conditions of the covenant to allow the development to go ahead has received significant opposition from councillors and residents. A 'call-in' - a function designed to examine an executive decision - will now take place on April 3 following a submission by Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors.
Sudbury Councillor, Paul Lorber, who has long been campaigning to protect the park, said the call-in 'highlights [the council's] disregard' for the Charity Commission Guidance - which states that Trustees 'must act in the interest of the charity' rather than the local authority as the board 'does not represent the council'. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Lorber said: "It is time that the Labour councillors running Brent showed some respect to Titus Barham who gifted his home and gardens for the recreation of local people."
He added: "The two existing cottages were built without any evidence of proper permission in the 1970s and there should not be any further expansion of building in Barham Park. The job of the Barham Park Trustees is to protect the park and not to scheme to enrich one individual and his family irrespective of their connection with the council."
Depending on what comes of the scrutiny meeting, Cllr Lorber said the group 'may take it further'. A petition set up at the start of the month (March 4) has already received 301 signatures (accurate at the time of publication) and will run until April 14.
The petition states: "Any attempts by the appointed Trustees to modify or discharge the restrictive covenant will go against the original aim in seeking to protect the site for the benefit of local people as opposed to the enrichment of a selected individual."
Cllr Lorber claims residents feel 'angry and completely ignored' following the decision. The trust is the legal owner of the restrictive covenants, meaning it does ultimately have the right to negotiate their modification or removal, providing it is in line with the Charity Commission's guidelines.
A Brent Council spokesperson said: "This deal would mean that Barham Park, its facilities, and the local residents who use them will benefit from a further £200,000 worth of investment over the coming years. An independent specialist has advised the Trustees that £200,000 is the market value for altering the covenant, and that the proposed terms are the best that can reasonably be obtained for the Trust. A final decision will be made, subject to the outcomes from the scrutiny meeting on Thursday, April 3."
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